Albert Barnes

And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

“And the remnant - The remainder of the assembled hosts - the army at large, in contradistinction from the leaders. Were slain with the sword - Cut down with the sword; not rescued for protracted torment.”

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven - Compare the notes on Rev 10:1. He does not say whether this angel had appeared to him before, but the impression is rather that it was a different one.”

And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete.

“And cast him into the bottomless pit - See the notes on Rev 9:1. A state of peace and prosperity would exist as if Satan, the great disturber, were confined in the nether world as a prisoner.”

And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

“And they went up on the breadth of the earth - They spread over the earth in extended columns. The image is that of an invading army that seems, in its march, to spread all over a land.”

Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

“And I saw a great white throne - This verse commences the description of the final judgment, which embraces the remainder of the chapter. The first thing seen in the vision is the burning throne of the Judge.”

And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

“And whosoever - All persons, of all ranks, ages, and conditions. No word could be more comprehensive than this.”

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth - Such a heaven and earth that they might properly be called new; such transformations, and such changes in their appearance, that they seemed to be just created.”

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven - As if uttered by God himself or the voice, of angels.”

And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”

“And he that sat upon the throne said - Probably the Messiah, the dispenser of the rewards of heaven. See the notes on Rev 20:11.”

The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

“He that overcometh - See the notes on Rev 2:7. Shall inherit all things - Be an heir of God in all things. See the notes on Rom 8:17. Compare Rev 2:7, Rev 2:11, Rev 2:17, Rev 2:26; Rev 3:5, Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21.”

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife…

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels ... - See the notes on Rev 16:6-7. Why one of these angels was employed to make this communication is not stated.”

shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.

“Having the glory of God - A glory or splendor such as became the dwelling place of God. The nature of that splendor is described in the following verses.”

There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.

“On the east three gates ... - The city was square Rev 21:16, and the same number of gates is assigned to each quarter.”

The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.

“And he that talked with me - The angel, Rev 21:9. Had a golden reed to measure the city - See the notes on Rev 11:1.”

And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

“And he measured the wall thereof - In respect to its “height.” Of course, its length corresponded with the extent of the city. An hundred and forty and four cubits - This would be, reckoning the cubit at eighteen inches, two hundred and sixteen feet.”

The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

“And the foundations of the wall of the city - notes on Rev 21:14. Were garnished - Were adorned, or decorated. That is, the foundations were composed of precious stones, giving them this highly ornamented and brilliant appearance.”

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

“And the twelve gates - Rev 21:12. Were twelve pearls - See the Rev 17:4 note; Mat 13:46 note. Every several gate was of one pearl - Each gate. Of course, this is not to be understood literally.”

But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

“And I saw no temple therein - No structure reared expressly for the worship of God; no particular place where he was adored. It was all temple - nothing but a temple.”

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it - This imagery seems to be derived from Isa 9:19-20. See notes on those verses.”

Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.

“And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day - It shall be constantly open, allowing free ingress and egress to all who reside there. The language is derived from Isa 60:11. See the notes on that place.”

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“And there shall in no wise - On no account; by no means. This strong language denotes the absolute exclusion of all that is specified in the verse. Anything that defileth - Literally, anything “common.” See the notes on Act 10:14.”

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life - In the New Jerusalem; the happy abode of the redeemed. The phrase “water of life,” means living or running water, like a spring or fountain, as contrasted with a stagnant pool.”

There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun.

“And there shall be no night there - notes on Rev 21:25. And they need no candle - No lamp; no artificial light, as in a world where there is night and darkness. Neither light of the sun; for the Lord God, ...”

“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

“Behold, I come quickly - See the notes on Rev 1:3. The words used here are undoubtedly the words of the Redeemer, although they are apparently repeated by the angel.”

But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this…

“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not - See the notes on Rev 19:10. For I am thy fellow-servant - notes on Rev 19:10.”